at 18:30 (JST), May 29

Asian View
"Asian View" is a five-minute news segment broadcast by NHK WORLD-JAPAN. It features the latest news and deep analysis from Japan and the rest of Asia. Listen to "Asian View" and get the latest information from a region that's playing an increasingly important role in the world.





https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20230529183000_english_1.mp3


Key words : plans to launch kishida
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230529_11/

Japanese government sources say North Korea has notified the International Maritime Organization of its plan to launch what it calls an artificial satellite sometime between May 31 and June 11.

The Japanese government suspects that Pyongyang plans to launch a ballistic missile under the pretext of putting a satellite into orbit.

The government's task force at the prime minister's office is collecting and analyzing information.

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed relevant ministries and agencies to provide people with information appropriately through thorough gathering and analysis of intelligence.

He said Japan will work closely with the United States and South Korea, and strongly urge Pyongyang to exercise self-restraint.

Kishida instructed government agencies to take all possible measures to prepare for any type of event.

Last month, North Korea announced that its first military reconnaissance satellite had been completed. The North also said it would step up final preparations so that the satellite can be launched at the planned date.

In February 2016, Pyongyang launched a ballistic missile under the pretext of putting an artificial satellite into orbit.

Key words : one of hong kong disband
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230528_01/

One of Hong Kong's major pro-democracy parties has decided to disband amid growing pressure from Beijing.

The Civic Party made the decision after its members took a vote on Saturday.

Party Chairman Alan Leong said it would be difficult for the party to continue, as there are no valid nominations for executive committee members or a new chairman.

The Civic Party was founded in 2006 by lawyers, scholars and others. It has called for electoral seats to be directly chosen by citizens.

Support for the party grew in 2019, in the wake of a series of anti-government protests.

The party won 32 seats in the 2019 district council elections. That was the second largest number among the pro-democracy parties.

But the following year, Beijing implemented a national security law and tightened its control over pro-democracy activists. Civic Party lawmakers were stripped of their qualifications or arrested and indicted.

Beijing also revamped Hong Kong's electoral system. The changes made it difficult for pro-democracy candidates to run. The Civic Party could not field candidates in the 2021 Legislative Council election.

Key words : may grand sumo
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230529_02/

The May Grand Sumo Tournament in Tokyo has given the impression that the sport's environment is returning to what it used to be before the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament opened on May 14, several days after the government downgraded the legal status of the coronavirus to the same category as seasonal flu. It ended on Sunday.

The tournament took place without a limit on spectator numbers, the first such arrangement in about three years for a sumo grand tourney at the Ryogoku Kokugikan arena in the Japanese capital.

The 15-day tournament was filled to capacity throughout, with many foreign tourists visible among the spectators.

Fans have been allowed to cheer in arenas since this year's January tournament. But other basic anti-infection measures are in place, such as sanitizing hands.

Since just before the May tournament, wrestlers have been allowed to take part in joint training between stables by the day before the tourney's opening. This represents a significant improvement for a practice environment.

Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hakkaku said he is grateful that the tickets for the tournament were sold out. He said wrestlers have continued to endure tough situations, including no-spectator days.

The tournament ended with Yokozuna Grand Champion Terunofuji capping a comeback from injuries by clinching the championship with 14 wins and one loss.

Sekiwake Kiribayama is certain to get promoted to the second highest rank of Ozeki champion as he racked up a total of 34 wins in the most recent three tournaments. That is one above the purported threshold required for such a promotion.

He will be the first new Ozeki since Mitakeumi advanced to the rank after the January 2022 tournament.

Key words : aoki father loner
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230529_08/

A deadly incident in central Japan on Thursday claimed the lives of two women and two police officers. The attacker's possible motives are being revealed that he thought the women looked down upon him.

Police arrested a male suspect Aoki Masanori, who runs a local farming business in Nagano Prefecture.

Two older female residents living nearby were stabbed to death while they were apparently taking a walk together. A witness said when police officers arrived at the scene, Aoki approached their patrol car and shot them at close range with his hunting rifle.

After the attacks, Aoki holed himself up in his home for about 12 hours and his father tried to persuade him to come out and surrender.

Police say Aoki then told his father that he thought the two women, who he apparently did not know well, were making fun of him as a "loner" when they were taking a walk and chatting.

The father reportedly said his son often overreacted to the word "loner" as he was bullied and teased when he was a university student.

Aoki dropped out of university and his father reportedly helped him take part in a group working to preserve a local festival. But after a few years, the son stopped taking part in the group.

A man who worked with Aoki, explained that the son was not a very active member of the group. He said Aoki did not speak with others unless someone talked to him.

A social psychology expert says people who have few interpersonal experiences tend to feel lonelier if they cannot get along well with others.

Igarashi Tasuku, associate professor of Nagoya University, said, "Repeatedly going though such failures could lead to what is called cognitive bias, where an individual begins to distrust others and finally would not trust anyone."

Igarashi added it is generally believed among psychology experts that loneliness alone would not lead to such vicious attacks, and therefore some different cause was apparently responsible.

Key words : talent agency address
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230526_27/

A former member of Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates says he will set up a contact point for people who allege they were sexually abused by its late founder.

Hashida Yasushi spoke to reporters on Friday at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan in Tokyo.

The 37-year-old actor and dancer is one of the former members who have come forward about alleged sexual misconduct by Johnny Kitagawa, who died in 2019.

Hashida says Kitagawa sexually abused him about a year after he joined the agency in 1998. Hashida was a member for seven years until he was 19.

He said he wants to gather the allegations of other victims and deliver them to the agency.

He also disclosed a plan to launch a petition requesting revisions to the law on preventing child abuse in cooperation with those who say they were victimized.

Hashida stressed that no one should become a victim of sexual abuse, and resolving this issue will help address sexual violence in the entertainment industry and elsewhere.

The agency's current president Julie K. Fujishima offered an apology over the allegations of sexual misconduct on May 14.

Hashida added that he wants the agency to face the problems swiftly, settle its past and make a fresh start.

Key words : china passenger jet
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230528_18/

China's new domestically-produced passenger jet has started commercial operation.

The C919, developed by the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, made its debut on Sunday with a trip from Shanghai to Beijing. The flight was operated by China Eastern Airlines.

State-run Xinhua news agency reported that the aircraft was delivered to the Shanghai-based carrier in December last year.

The new aircraft has about 160 seats. It will compete with the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737, which are widely used in China.

The state-owned developer is said to have received orders for more than 1,000 of the new aircraft, mainly from Chinese carriers.

The Chinese government has been working to domestically develop passenger aircraft as part of its goal of becoming a manufacturing powerhouse.

The ARJ21, a smaller domestically-produced passenger aircraft, already operates on flights connecting regional cities in the country.

Key words : yakusho best actor shibuya
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20230528_06/

Japanese actor Yakusho Koji has won the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his performance in the movie "Perfect Days." The film was directed by Germany's Wim Wenders.

Prizes were announced in the French resort city on Saturday, the final day of the event. Cannes is one of the world's three major film festivals, along with Venice and Berlin.

"Perfect Days" is set in Shibuya, Tokyo. The main character, played by Yakusho, makes a living cleaning public toilets.

It is the first time in 19 years that a Japanese actor has won the prize. In 2004, Yagira Yuya became the first Japanese to earn the award for his role in "Nobody Knows." That film was directed by Koreeda Hirokazu.
Japanese screenwriter Sakamoto Yuji won the Best Screenplay prize for "Monster," also directed by Koreeda Hirokazu.

The last time a Japanese film earned the Best Screenplay was in 2021 with "Drive My Car." Director Hamaguchi Ryusuke and scriptwriter Oe Takamasa received the honors.

The top prize, the Palme d'Or, went to the French mystery "Anatomy of a Fall", directed by Justine Triet.